Dearest Diamond Club members,
Thank you, thank you, thank you… YOU are the secret to any success for Southern Miss Softball!
All season you’ve been provided with an “inside look” at our team. Today will be no different. As you’re receiving this email, I am walking into the conference room to address the team. Please see the attachment to view the words that will be shared.
It has been my pleasure to lead your softball program, and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to do so. Thank you for cheering for us. Thank you for buying t-shirts. Thank you for the hugs. Thank you for the high fives on the deck. Thank you for shouting “To the Top” back at us after our games. Thank you for the expectations you’ve set for us year after year. Thank you for the love and support you’ve shown not only our team, but to my personal family – Eric, Kinley, and Keaton – as well. This was not an easy decision for me, but those two bright-eyed blessings are 100% the reason behind it.
I’m looking forward to joining you at the games in the future! J
Much love and tons of gratitude,
Wendy Hogue
Head Softball Coach
Office: (601)266-6750 Cell: (601)270-7358
Email: wendy.hogue@usm.edu Twitter: @USMCoachHogue
Ecclesiastes 3:1 reads, “For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven.” In the verses that follow, it goes on to say, “a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose, a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”
Sounds like a softball season, doesn’t it! Ha! So many “seasons” take place over the course of our short time together. You know me, anytime scripture is read or a sermon is heard, I always relate it to softball. “A time to plant and a time to pluck”, that reminds me of recruiting... A time to mourn and a time to dance… definitely felt those moments throughout the year, huh...? A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing… I did NOT want to hug that Ole Miss coach, but I felt it was a “time to embrace”. A time to keep silent and a time to speak… Obviously, umpires come to mind.J
Verse 6 says there’s “a time to seek, and a time to lose”…Y’all know how grateful I am for the opportunity to be a part of Southern Miss Softball. YOU are the reason for that. I’ve told you numerous times that you’re my “why” and that leaving the office and coming to spend the afternoon with you, preparing for victory – in life and on the field – is my favorite part of the workday. I love the excitement of game day. I love seeing the smiles on D Brown and TaTa’s face as they come running around the dugout from the cage to the field. I love the look on your face when you “get” what Caoch C is trying to say! I love the competitive claws that come out everytime we play hit it and get it!I love the highs we experience as a team, because they make the lows tolerable. The lows, in turn, make us appreciate the highs to the fullest. And, though being your coach is so very rewarding in most every aspect, there is one area in which doing this job to the best of my ability leaves a void… And that’s with Kinley and Keaton. Eric, too, but mostly Kinley and Keaton J. When I was blessed with the opportunity to take this job 5 years ago, Kinley was barely big enough to sit in the front seat. Now she’s driving!! Keaton was a toddler with not a care in the world. Now, he’s a 7 year old who is passionate about EVERYTHING in life and wants to play every sport under the sun… Again,I’ll stress, this job is so, so, SO rewarding… And YOU are the reason for that. But I hope you’ll understand when I say that for this “season of life” it is best for me to step away from coaching at the Division 1 level and pursue an option that allows me to be more present with my family.
“A time to seek and a time to lose…” In this case, in order to “seek” more time with them, I have to “lose” my time with you. My current contract with Southern Miss will expire at the end of June. After many hours of prayerful consideration, I’ve decided not to move forward with the renewal process. I don’t know who’ll be the next leader of Southern Miss Softball, but I can promise you one thing… Whomever it is, will be inheriting an extremely talented softball team and an even better group of young women. Continue to stay positive and always pursue excellence. Remember who you are and what you stand for. Continue to raise the bar by raising expectations. And continue to love, support, and hold each other accountable – on and off the field. Because those are the things that matter most in life.
I’ll be around for the next couple of months so there will be plenty time to talk and answer questions. Some of you still have exit meetings, and we’ll get to those. But right now I’m going to allow Jeremy and Brad to talk with you for a few minutes.
I love you, and I’m proud of you!
Thank you, thank you, thank you… YOU are the secret to any success for Southern Miss Softball!
All season you’ve been provided with an “inside look” at our team. Today will be no different. As you’re receiving this email, I am walking into the conference room to address the team. Please see the attachment to view the words that will be shared.
It has been my pleasure to lead your softball program, and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to do so. Thank you for cheering for us. Thank you for buying t-shirts. Thank you for the hugs. Thank you for the high fives on the deck. Thank you for shouting “To the Top” back at us after our games. Thank you for the expectations you’ve set for us year after year. Thank you for the love and support you’ve shown not only our team, but to my personal family – Eric, Kinley, and Keaton – as well. This was not an easy decision for me, but those two bright-eyed blessings are 100% the reason behind it.
I’m looking forward to joining you at the games in the future! J
Much love and tons of gratitude,
Wendy Hogue
Head Softball Coach
Office: (601)266-6750 Cell: (601)270-7358
Email: wendy.hogue@usm.edu Twitter: @USMCoachHogue
Ecclesiastes 3:1 reads, “For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven.” In the verses that follow, it goes on to say, “a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose, a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”
Sounds like a softball season, doesn’t it! Ha! So many “seasons” take place over the course of our short time together. You know me, anytime scripture is read or a sermon is heard, I always relate it to softball. “A time to plant and a time to pluck”, that reminds me of recruiting... A time to mourn and a time to dance… definitely felt those moments throughout the year, huh...? A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing… I did NOT want to hug that Ole Miss coach, but I felt it was a “time to embrace”. A time to keep silent and a time to speak… Obviously, umpires come to mind.J
Verse 6 says there’s “a time to seek, and a time to lose”…Y’all know how grateful I am for the opportunity to be a part of Southern Miss Softball. YOU are the reason for that. I’ve told you numerous times that you’re my “why” and that leaving the office and coming to spend the afternoon with you, preparing for victory – in life and on the field – is my favorite part of the workday. I love the excitement of game day. I love seeing the smiles on D Brown and TaTa’s face as they come running around the dugout from the cage to the field. I love the look on your face when you “get” what Caoch C is trying to say! I love the competitive claws that come out everytime we play hit it and get it!I love the highs we experience as a team, because they make the lows tolerable. The lows, in turn, make us appreciate the highs to the fullest. And, though being your coach is so very rewarding in most every aspect, there is one area in which doing this job to the best of my ability leaves a void… And that’s with Kinley and Keaton. Eric, too, but mostly Kinley and Keaton J. When I was blessed with the opportunity to take this job 5 years ago, Kinley was barely big enough to sit in the front seat. Now she’s driving!! Keaton was a toddler with not a care in the world. Now, he’s a 7 year old who is passionate about EVERYTHING in life and wants to play every sport under the sun… Again,I’ll stress, this job is so, so, SO rewarding… And YOU are the reason for that. But I hope you’ll understand when I say that for this “season of life” it is best for me to step away from coaching at the Division 1 level and pursue an option that allows me to be more present with my family.
“A time to seek and a time to lose…” In this case, in order to “seek” more time with them, I have to “lose” my time with you. My current contract with Southern Miss will expire at the end of June. After many hours of prayerful consideration, I’ve decided not to move forward with the renewal process. I don’t know who’ll be the next leader of Southern Miss Softball, but I can promise you one thing… Whomever it is, will be inheriting an extremely talented softball team and an even better group of young women. Continue to stay positive and always pursue excellence. Remember who you are and what you stand for. Continue to raise the bar by raising expectations. And continue to love, support, and hold each other accountable – on and off the field. Because those are the things that matter most in life.
I’ll be around for the next couple of months so there will be plenty time to talk and answer questions. Some of you still have exit meetings, and we’ll get to those. But right now I’m going to allow Jeremy and Brad to talk with you for a few minutes.
I love you, and I’m proud of you!
